Mori seems won "best setup man" two years in a row in '02 and '03 but has seen his innings drop and WHIP balloon in '04 and '05. I don't know the economics of Japanese baseball but it looks like Seibu valued the $500,000 posting fee more than his continued service as a pitcher.
Lots of good info on Japanese ballplayers at http://www.japanbaseballdaily.com/ . Thin gruel on the hot stove debating Tampa's middle relief but what can you do? Apparently the real gem of the Seibu Lions is Daisuke Matsuzaka, a 25 year old RH starter that also wanted to play in the US but was not released. Matsuzaka looks like he led the Pacific League in Ks, CGs, IP, and had high WP and HBP numbers - I wonder if he has nasty stuff?
Wake me up when pitchers and catchers report.
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Lots of good info on Japanese ballplayers at http://www.japanbaseballdaily.com/ . Thin gruel on the hot stove debating Tampa's middle relief but what can you do? Apparently the real gem of the Seibu Lions is Daisuke Matsuzaka, a 25 year old RH starter that also wanted to play in the US but was not released. Matsuzaka looks like he led the Pacific League in Ks, CGs, IP, and had high WP and HBP numbers - I wonder if he has nasty stuff?
Wake me up when pitchers and catchers report.
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.